Wednesday August 23 to Monday August 28, 2017

Presented by the Saskatoon and Regina Centres of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

WELCOME TO SSSP FOR 2017!

We are looking forward to this year’s star party, the 21st SSSP!

REGISTRATION:

Please note that the Early Registration period ended on July 15th. The registration fees have increased by $10. Go to the "Registration/Order" menu to access the Registration page.

RESORT:

The Resort's room block that was reserved for the star party has been released. Rooms may be available, but you will have to compete with everyone else looking for accommodations. Note that the Resort does NOT maintain a waiting list.

CAMPING:

The numbered camping spacers are just about full. But do not panic. We do have occasional cancellations, and if you are tenting or have an RV that is self-contained, there is ample room to camp. The Meadows is HUGE - far bigger than it looks on the campmap: see a Google image on our Gallery page. We will fit you in. We also have the use of peripheral campgrounds such as the ball diamond sites and Dark-sky sites (unpowered) if necessary. Contact Rick Huziak for a campsite.

STAR CAFE SUPPER:

There was no interest expressed in a special arranged dinner at the Star Cafe in Maple Creek. We will be doing our traditional potluck at the Yurt on Sunday August 27th.

CONFIRMED GUESTS:

Prof. Mel Stauffer, Geology Department, University of Saskatchewan. Prof. Stauffer will be presenting a talk on Saturday afternoon on meteorites, tektites and impactites.

Dr. Kathryn McWilliams, University of Saskatchewan. Kathryn will present the Saturday afternoon Father Lucian Kemble lecture.

Louise Jones will be giving the Thursday "Under Living Skies" Public Lecture.

Rena Woss will be organizing a Friday afternoon clinic on light pollution and nocturnal preserves.

Galleries

Schedule of Events

Come early and stay late if you choose. Most events take place in the Resort's Wapiti Room (WR),
the Meadows Campground Observing Field (MC), the Park Amphitheatre (PA) or the Dark-Sky Campground (DC).
Every day ends with viewing in the MC.

This schedule is subject to change without notice. Check the notice board at the Registration Tent for any changes.

Wednesday August 23

Free time for park activities

21:00 -

SSSP Observing (MC)

Thursday August 24

14:00-17:00

Registration (MC)

17:00-18:30

Welcome BBQ (PA)

18:00-19:00

Sky Harp - A Tribute to Lyra, Cecile Denis (PA)

19:00-20:00

Under Living Skies Public Lecture, Louise Jones - Home Place--Learning to live with nature in the city (PA) (public)

Clinic under the stars - Tim Yaworski - "The Best Camera is the One You Have With You" (MC)

Sunday August 27

Free time for park activities

17:00 -

Potluck Supper (DC Yurt)

21:00 -

Straggler's Observing (MC)

Monday August 28

Straggler's head home, SSSP officially done

Programming

(Click on each item below to expand.)

Astrophoto and Sketching Contest

The categories are listed below:

Tripod: starry landscapes, star trails or constellation portraits

Wide field tracking

Solar System: Moon, planets, and comets

Deep Sky

Sketching

For each of the categories 1-5 above, a First Prize plaque and a Second Prize certificate will be awarded.

Two special prizes will also be awarded:

Photography Novice Award: Awarded to an entry from someone who has not won before at any star party.

People's Choice Award

The rules of the contest are as follows:

A maximum of 2 photos can be entered per person, and a maximum of 2 sketches per person.

Images may be in printed or in electronic format.

All entries must be identified with labels provided.

Photos do not have to be taken at SSSP nor not within the same calendar year.

Winning photos or sketches from previous SSSP's can not be entered again.

Entries cannot have won anywhere else, but could have been entered elsewhere as a non-winning entry.

Sketches must be field sketches either completed at the eyepiece or started at the eyepiece and finished later based on observing notes. All sketches must be hand-drawn.

The SSSP will be accepting Electronic Images for the astrophoto contest. Please bring your images on a memory stick and load them onto the SSSP laptop in the Wapiti Room - opening times will be in the SSSP 2017 Handout. Images will be displayed in a scrolling Powerpoint program, but judges will have the original images available to view. Printed images may certainly still be entered.

All entries must be received by 12 Noon on Saturday August 26.

Banquet

The Resort catering staff will be serving a single meat entrée buffet. The banquet is served in the Wapiti Room, starting at 6:00 pm Saturday. Costs for the banquet are: Adults 11 yr+, $37; Youth 6-10 yr, $23; Children under 6 yr, free.

There are a limited number of places for the banquet. They will be allocated on a "first registered, first allocated" basis. We strongly suggest that you preorder your tickets when you register. A small number of places will be held for at-the-door registrations but only if the room limit has not yet been exceeded. We also ask you, if you find that you are not able to come to the banquet but have preordered tickets, to contact us immediately by phoning 306-280-1899. We will refund your banquet ticket costs and will allocate your tickets to people on our waiting list. If you do not contact us beforehand and you do not show up, your banquet ticket costs will NOT be refunded. See "Refund Policy" for more information.

Menu to be announced.

If you have specific dietary requirements, please contact the star party organizers by e-mail or phone.

BBQ

The BBQ starts at 5 pm on Thursday and will be held by the Amphitheatre. Tickets are $5.
We are planning entertainment at 6 pm and a public talk (starting after the BBQ, about 7 pm).

Featured Speakers

We are pleased to announce our confirmed guests for this year:

Prof. Mel Stauffer, Geology Department, University of Saskatchewan. Prof. Stauffer will be presenting a talk on Saturday afternoon on meteorites, tektites and impactites.

Dr. Kathryn McWilliams, University of Saskatchewan. Kathryn will present the Saturday afternoon Father Lucian Kemble lecture.

Louise Jones will be giving the Thursday "Under Living Skies" Public Lecture.

Rena Woss will be organizing a Friday afternoon clinic on light pollution and nocturnal preserves.

Tim Yaworski will lead the Saturday evening clinic, "The Best Camera is the One You Have With You".

Jennifer Petriew and Kim Kulak will be organizing the Saturday morning Children's Program.

Other guests and additional information will be posted as information becomes available.

Resort / Camping

(Click on each item below to expand.)

Resort Accommodatons

The Resort's room block that was reserved for the star party has been released. Rooms may be available, but you will have to compete with everyone else looking for accommodations.

If there are no units available, contact our Registrar Rick Huziak at 306-665-3392 or sssp.sk@sasktel.net. We maintain a waiting list for people who wish to find accommodations in the Resort. Do NOT ask the Resort to place you on their waiting list: they do not maintain a waiting list of their own.

Contact the Resort at 306-662-4477. Additional information about the Resort is available at their
website.

Camping in the Meadows

SSSP observing and clinics are held in the Meadows Campground. For the dates of August 23 and August 27, all SSSP campsites are booked
directly though Rick Huziak, separate from the Registration process. The provincial
Reserve-a-Site website
shows these campsites are blocked out because they have been exclusively reserved for SSSP attendees – they are indeed available.
Reserve-a-Site opens April 9th. See www.saskparks.net/fees for Reserve-a-Site fee structure.

The Meadows has pull-through and back-in campsites for RVs or tents. Every campsite has power hook-ups, a fire-pit and a
picnic table, and some have water hook-ups. There is also ample over-flow camping.

If you decide to come earlier than the official reserved days of SSSP (August 23 - 27) you will be sharing camping with non-SSSP campers,
but they will all have to leave by the time SSSP begins. The campground lights will be extinguished from August 23 until the morning of August 28.
If you need dark skies before that, you are welcome to observe from the Dark-sky Campground at the Observatory.
The Observatory has a six guest pads and power plugs on the south side of the building. If you want to camp in the Dark-sky
Campground before the star party begins, book directly with the Park Campground Office.

Camping costs Electric: $30/day, Overflow: $18/day. Camping is booked through the SSSP Registrar, but fees are paid to the Campground
Office at the gate entrance on arrival at the park.

For see the current Camp Map or for further information about camping in the Meadows, click

CAMPING MAP – available sites

BOOK a CAMPSITE at the SSSP

Bookings for the Meadows during the days of the SSSP will be handled by the SSSP REGISTRAR, Rick Huziak.
If you have any complaints or disputes about camping, please talk to the Registrar, and not the Campground Office.

Use the Camping Map in the tab above and pick your SSSP campsite.
If the spot is not pink or black, it might be available. If the map starts to look full, don’t panic -
we will find a space for you! An updated map will be posted weekly.

Email Rick Huziak at sssp.sk@sasktel.net (preferred) or call (306-665-3392) with your campsite choice.
He will try to get back to you on the same day and confirm your desired booking.
You may put one camper or one tent on the site if you are the owner of the site, plus an additional tent
only if they are directly related family members.

Site costs are: Electric: $30/night; Non-electric: $20/night; Economy/overflow: $18/night.
All site fees are payable to the Park Campground Office once you arrive at SSSP.
They will have you on their reservation list. You may take any or all of these five days, paying for only the days you use.

If you intend to come earlier than August 23 or stay later than August 28, then you must book those days
and pre-pay for your camping through the Sask Parks
Reserve-a-Site.
SSSP cannot book days outside of SSSP dates. We strongly suggest you book extra days as close to April 9 as you can
(when Reserve-a-Site opens), since Meadows is a very popular campground.
If you are there earlier than August 23, you may have to return to the campground office on August 23 to pay for your SSSP camping period.

All sites not booked by the first day of SSSP will be treated as rush sites, first come, first serve, and will be booked at the Registration Tent.

If you cannot attend SSSP, please let Rick know so he can cancel your booking.

M1–M20
Open field camping. Unprotected from Bald Butte Road, so car headlights will be prevalent during the
Friday and Saturday night public star nights now held at the observatory.
Cars will run up and down this road from 9pm – 11pm both nights. Great horizons, except for low south.
You can also just camp in these sites and set your telescopes up for the weekend in the main grassy area of the Meadows.

M21–M30
Camping spots sheltered in the trees, but unprotected from Bald Butte Road, so car headlights will be
prevalent during the Friday and Saturday night public star nights now held at the observatory.
Cars will run up and down this road from 9pm – 11pm both nights. You can also just camp in these sites and
set you telescopes up for the weekend in the main grassy area of the Meadows. Great north, east and west horizons.

M31, M35, M38, M43, M45
Camping spots sheltered in the trees. No light issues – face the Meadows grassy area. Great south, east and west horizons.

M50, M65Handicap sites with concrete pads. If you have special mobility needs, ask us specifically for one of these sites.
Open field camping in main grassy area of Meadows. No shade, but excellent horizons in all directions.
(If non-booked, the site symbol will show a pie-shape.)

M55, M56, M58, M59, M61, M69
Camping spots sheltered in the trees. No light issues – face the Meadows grassy area. Great south and east horizons.

M57
Camping spots sheltered in the trees, but down a fair slope. Very shaded, but is low.
Large campers might have trouble getting down and up. No light issues – face the Meadows grassy area. Great south and east horizons.

M66, M67, M68
Camping spots sheltered in the trees. Horizons are not all available from here, so parking telescopes elsewhere is advised.

M71, M72, M73
Camping spots sheltered in the trees. No light issues – face the Meadows grassy area.
Great north and east horizons, and south horizon looking down the road.

M74, M75, M76
Camping spots sheltered in the trees. May be some light issues as the next sites to the south are public sites,
though SSSP will talk to adjacent campers about the need for sheltering any lights. Great north and east horizons,
and south horizon looking down the road.

M120, M122
These spots are completely in the trees. If you want to be away from the crowd,
these are good spots, but there are no clear horizons; you would have to set your telescope up in the main observing
field for the weekend. It is a 1-minute walk to the observing field.

M115 - M117, M119, M121, M123, M124
Camping spots sheltered in the trees. There are no horizons available from here, so observing is recommended
by parking scopes to the north through the trees near the playground.

M126, M137, M138, M140, M142
Open field camping in main grassy area of Meadows. No shade, but excellent horizons in all directions except low south.

M127, M134, M135, M136, M139, M141, M143
Camping spots sheltered in the trees. No light issues, but may be near public campers – face the Meadows grassy area.
Great north and east horizons, and west horizons.

Overflow Camping in the Meadows

If you are tenting and do not want a powered site, can you overflow camp in the Meadows.
You can do this only during the official SSSP days of August 23 - 27.
We have designated an overflow tenting area just northwest of the Service Centre,
but you can tent anywhere there is room. If we exceed the ~115 sites in the Meadows,
we would like those who have paid for a powered site to offer a corner of their site to other tenters,
trailers and telescopes - there is ample room. Note that we have special permission from the Park
to double up on campsites if we fill all campsites. If you are tenting outside of the overflow area,
please ask the nearest site owner if it is okay to share their site. Overflow campers must pay $18/night
at the Campground Office, even if sharing. Overflow campers will NOT get a picnic table, so bring your own table.
If you need power, then make a deal with the site owner to plug into their pole (so bring a 50-foot extension cord).
Do not camp on any roads. Outside of SSSP dates, you must take an official campsite.

Camping in Adjacent Campgrounds

If you do not want to camp in Meadows, the Dark-sky Campground is available. But SSSP events and
activities are held in the Meadows. The Dark-sky sites are more rustic, have a fire-pit and a picnic table,
but no power. Rates for these sites are $15/night. This is a great campground to use for astronomy
before or after the SSSP or at other times of the year.

Arriving at the Meadows for SSSP

When arriving at SSSP, enter the Meadows through traditional gate at the Meadows Comet Petriew cairn.
The Registration Tent will be there, and you can get registered and find your campsite. We will have a map of
available campsites hanging on the tent, and can offer guidance for overflow campers and those who will just
set their scopes up. Do not use the Ball Diamond entrance, which now goes to Meadows-B sites used by the public.

Service Centre & Non-SSSP Campers

The Service Centre has flush toilets and showers and will be red-lit for the duration of the SSSP.
Note that the Service Centre will also be used by non-SSSP campers who occupy other sites in the Meadows.
The Park and the SSSP will make efforts to educate these users about telescopes and the star party, and
will offer red filters for their flashlights, so if you see a white flashlight, please remind them
CALMLY to point them downward. Do not yell at them, or SSSP gets yelled at by the Park.

If You Are Not Staying in the Meadows - Hoteling It

If you are not staying in the Meadows and want to set up and leave your telescope or equipment tent,
you may do so by using the tent overflow area, or by occupying a corner of a powered site or a grassy area in between.
Have a talk with the site owner to assure they are OK with you setting up there.
Equipment tents are allowed but must be labelled "Equipment tent" and must not be occupied.
There is no charge to put up an equipment tent. You may leave your equipment set up for the duration if you wish.
Leave room for the site owner to get in and out of their site. You will NOT get a picnic table so bring your own table.
If you need power, then make a deal with the site owner to plug into their pole (so bring a 50-foot extension cord).
Do not set up on any roads. Outside of SSSP dates, either you must take an official campsite.

Information for American and Foreign Guests

The SSSP may have trouble cashing personal cheques drawn from American banks.
Please choose one of the following payment options:

Paypal (including credit card payments). Paypal billing will be in Can$, conversion should be handled by your method of payment

International money order or bank draft (request bank to convert Can$ total to US$ payable)

Pre-register on-line or by mail and tell us you will pay cash at the star party

The SSSP will honor international currency conversion rates before and at the Star Party.

Cypress Hills Park contains banking machines that issue Can$.

US and foreign residents require passports to enter Canada.

Information for Vendors

The SSSP Committee welcomes astronomy (and related) dealers to set up booths at the SSSP. At this event you have
the potential to reach over 350 astronomy enthusiasts just looking to buy something.

To participate, you are asked to follow the standard registration procedure - i.e. vendors must register as normal
participants at the normal costs for the star party. You may in turn sell and conduct normal business within the
Meadows observing field, but due to Park restrictions cannot solicit elsewhere in the park. The SSSP is not
responsible for any vendors' business costs (transportation, accommodation, living, etc.) Vendors are responsible
for their own arrangements, park entry and must pay standard camping fees (to the Park) and campsite power if needed,
if staying in the Meadows. The SSSP is not responsible for any merchandise loss or damage.
As registered SSSP star party goers, vendors are welcome to participate in all activities that they have registered for.

If you would like to donate a door prize, this will be graciously accepted & will be accordingly acknowledged,
though a door prize donation is not required and is at the discretion of the vendor. On request, vendors can receive
a free 1/4-page ad in the star party handout literature or for $25 can purchase a full-page ad. Ads in the SSSP
handout are gray-scale photocopied and are not in colour. Formatted ads for inclusion in the printed brochure must
be received no later than 15 days prior to the star party. Alternately, the SSSP will pre-package vendor-supplied
product brochures in our registration folders for free if they are received no later than 15 days before the start
of the star party. Approximately 200 registration packages are handed out.
(Send to Rick Huziak, 127 Maple Street, Saskatoon, SK, S7J 0A2.)

In a further attempt to foster on-going good will, star party vendors will be entitled to one ad of one page or
less in the Saskatoon Skies monthly newsletter, over the coming year. These ads are at no additional cost. Our
current newsletter circulation is approximately 80 copies, but these are highly targeted readers & the newsletters are
also on-line. All ads are subject to approval by the Saskatoon Centre Executive before inclusion in the newsletter.
We will do our best to publish the ad in the month desired.

Check back often for new developments.

Lighting Issues and Etiquette

The SSSP is a Red-Light Only Zone from sundown to sun-up. We are not unique: all star parties insist on no white lights to preserve night vision for participants. If you are a new attendee or do not understand these regulations, ask a star party organizer for assistance.

White light flashlights are NOT allowed! Use only red filtered flashlights, and keep them as dim as possible.

Please make sure to have your car parked in its final resting position well before darkness sets in. If you do not intend to remain in the Meadows Observing Field all night long, park and set up near to the entrance so you can leave without blinding everybody! Cars are to use their park-lights only, or be lead with their lights off by someone with a red flashlight. (This is not advised for safety reasons and to be used only in an emergency). Gate security people will have a limited supply of red flags to cover car lights. Cover the following lights: interior, back-up, license plate, trunk and headlights. Gate security people will tape red flags your vehicle lights at the gate as you arrive. Please cover windows on RVs as not to accidentally have a family member flash the crowd with white light. The most common offending light issues with vehicles are interior dome lights and uncovered backup lights coming on unexpectedly.

Red and green lasers are permitted. Do not point them horizontally at people or trailers! Do not point them at aircraft or you will be in violation of Transport Canada safety rules and can be arrested, and you will jeopardize the SSSP. Lasers will show on astrophotos if they are held in the same place for many seconds, so please use them sparingly. Lasers will be used extensively during the scheduled starwalks from 10:00pm to 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

A full set of Light Etiquette suggestions will be in the registration brochure in your registration package.

Park Entry Fees

The SSSP is held in a provincial park, thus provincial park entry fees apply to your stay. Pay at the park gate as you enter.

Pins and Patches

The SSSP 2017 pin design (draft) is:

Pin prices are as follows:

2017 pins: $8

Previous years’ pins: $2

We also have SSSP Embroidered Patches available for $8.

Refund Policy

The SSSP will offer complete refunds* for registration costs and prepaid activities, without a handling fee, to participants who wish to withdraw from the SSSP prior to the start of the star party and for no-show participants except as follows:

SSSP cannot refund the prepaid banquet costs within 48-hours of the banquet (ie. after 5:00 p.m. on the preceding Thursday) since the SSSP locks in their banquet costs to the Resort at that time. If shirts are pre-ordered, the SSSP may not be able to cancel shirt orders within 3 weeks of the star party. If possible, refunds for shirts will be made, but if cancellation is not possible, shirts will be mailed out at the withdrawing participant's cost after the star party. No shows are defined as those who have not registered by the end of registration period on the Saturday afternoon of the star party.

However, banquet tickets are always in demand right up to the starting minute of the banquet! There is almost always a waiting list since banquet seating space is limited. If you have not made previous arrangements and find that at the last minute you cannot come to the star party or cannot attend the banquet, please telephone us at 306-280-1899 (star party cell) and let us know if you will release your banquet tickets for resale. If we can resell your banquet tickets, we will refund the entire cost to you, even within the 48-hour no-refund window. Someone at the star party will be delighted that you thought of them! Otherwise, your tickets will be held for you assuming you will show up at the last minute and are thus not otherwise refundable.

* For refunds of $25 and less, SSSP will issue you a credit for a future SSSP and will inform you of this before the next year's registration. However, we will be glad to refund the $25 or less by cheque if you request this.

Shirts

The logo design and background shirt colour are:

Shirt prices are as follows:

T-shirts: $25 available in adult sizes S to XXXL and youth sizes S to L

Golf-shirts: $45 available in adult sizes S to XXXL

Hoodies: $50 available in adult sizes S to XXXL and youth sizes S to L

Shirts have to be pre-ordered during the Early Registration period for them to be available to you at the star party. The on-site order prices will remain the same as pre-orders except that $10 extra will be charged for shipping where applicable.

SSSP and the Dark-Sky Preserve

SSSP is held in Meadows Campground. Meadows has a Service Centre with flush toilets and showers. SSSP had input into the design of the Service Centre, so that the building remains as dark as possible and now contains separate red lighting used during the star party. However, Meadows also contains streetlights that are used outside of star party dates. All streetlights follow dark-sky full cut-off requirements. It should be noted that the Cypress Hills Dark-Sky Preserve Agreement does not limit development within the Park, especially in the core area where businesses are located and where campers camp. Thus new and renovated campgrounds can receive lighting provided that it is compliant with dark-sky rules. Meadows covers approximately 8 acres of a 197,000-acre dark-sky preserve. Almost all other areas of the Park outside of the core area contain no lighting.

In 2013, SaskPower changed the last 90 old style drop-lens cobra-head streetlights in the Park to IP-addressable flat-lens full cut-off lights that can be dimmed and turned off by the Park using an RF link. These lights can be dimmed or shut off on command. Almost all streetlights within the park are now compliant to the Dark-sky Agreement.

If observing time is desired beyond star party dates, any area within the park can be used for that activity, though you cannot camp overnight in non-designated campgrounds. You can, however, take advantage of camping and no lights in the Dark-Sky campground immediately northwest of Meadows. The campground contains 16 non-powered, unlit campsites. Since the Cypress Observatory is the home of a new observatory and Yurt classroom, some activity using red light use may occur during interpretive programs, but otherwise, the site is very dark. Eight outside power plugs and concrete pads for visitor telescopes are available for use and are located on the south side of the Observatory.

Benefits of the Cypress Hills Dark-Sky Agreement:

the creation of Canada's largest Dark-sky Preserve when signed in 2004

the construction of the Dark-sky Campground

the construction of the Cypress Observatory & Yurt classroom

astronomy interpretive program with telescopes - the highest-attended program in the Park

inter-park equestrian campgrounds with Grasslands National Park DSP

cross-training of interpreters between Cypress Hills and Grasslands DSPs

the first RASC General Assembly ever held in a Dark-sky Preserve (2009)

Contact Us

Contact us at sssp.sk@sasktel.net or call Rick Huziak at 306-665-3392
or Les Dickson at 306-249-1091.

Saskatchewan Summer Star Party 2017 Registration / Order Form

Registration will be opening April 12, 2017.

Saskatchewan Summer Star Party 2017 Registration / Order Form

You can register and/or order items on-line or by regular mail. If you have any questions,
please contact the registrar at email sssp.sk@sasktel.net or call Rick at 306-665-3392.

Information about On-Line Registration / Ordering

The on-line form can be used to Register and/or Order Items for the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party.

Step 1:

Fill out the form on the next page. If you are making additions to a previous registration/order, you can use the form
again but please use the same email address. If you need to make changes to the form after it is submitted, please contact the
registrar (include your registration/order number).

Step 2:

Click on the Paypal link and enter your payment information. Credit cards and Paypal accounts are accepted.
If you need to pay by cheque, still use the form to register/order and contact the registrar (please include
your registration/order number). You are still welcome to print the registration form and mail it with
a cheque. Send to: Rick Huziak, 2017 SSSP Registrar, 127 Maple Street, Saskatoon SK, S7J 0A2

Step 3:

Check your email for your confirmation message and verify eveything looks correct to you. You should receive an email with
your registration/order information and a second email confirming payment after your online payment has been processed.

Step 4:

Meet us at the registration tent to pick up your registration package and any items you ordered.

Information for American and Foreign Guests

The SSSP may have trouble cashing personal cheques drawn from American banks.
Please choose one of the following payment options:

Paypal (including credit card payments). Paypal billing will be in Can$, conversion should be handled by your method of payment

International money order or bank draft (request bank to convert Can$ total to US$ payable)

Pre-register on-line or by mail and tell us you will pay cash at the star party

The SSSP will honor international currency conversion rates before and at the Star Party.

Cypress Hills Park contains banking machines that issue Can$.

US and foreign residents require passports to enter Canada.

Register / Order On-Line:

Register / Order by Mail:

CONTACT PERSON

First Name (required):

Last Name (required):

Email (required):

Confirm Email (required):

May we contact you by email two or three times a year about next year's SSSP?

Yes

No

MAILING ADDRESS

Street Address/Box No.:

City/Town:

Province/State:

Postal/ZIP Code:

Country:

Phone:

RASC Centre / Club Affiliation:

(You do not have to be a member of a club to participate)

Please list names of all attendees, as you would like them shown on the name tags. Include last names if different from Contact Person.

Adults:

Children under 12 (include ages):

Total number of people attending:

What observing equipment do you expect to bring (binoculars, telescopes, etc.)? This will be printed in the SSSP handout.

Equipment:

I am planning to stay at:

Meadows Campground

Other Campground

Resort

Other

Date Arriving:

Date Leaving:

See the Resort/Camping section for instructions on how to book.

Would you like to give a talk at the Friday night informal presentations (5-15 minutes)?

Yes

No

Topic:

Equipment Required:

Would you help at SSSP by volunteering for a 2-hour work shift?

Yes

No

Will you display at the Astro Art Exhibit in Wapiti Room? (see website for details)

Yes

No

Single(s)

$0.00

Couple

$0.00

Family

$0.00

Thursday BBQ Tickets:

$0.00

Saturday Banquet Tickets (only 160 sittings available):

Adults 11 years+

$0.00

Children 6-10 years

$0.00

Under 6 years old eat free

$0.00

Check if special dietary requirements (e.g. Vegetarian)

On-site availability of dinner banquet tickets not guaranteed if not requested and paid for in advance.Souvenir Items:

SSSP 2017 Pins. Click to see this year's design.

$0.00

SSSP Embroidered Patch(Patch does not vary year to year)

$0.00

SSSP 2017 Shirts (select quantity for each size/type). Click to see colour and shirt logo:

Size

T-Shirts ($25.00)

Golf Shirts ($45.00)

Hoodies ($50.00)

Adult Small

Adult Medium

Adult Large

Adult XL

Adult XXL

Adult XXXL

Youth S 6-9

N/A

Youth M 10-12

N/A

Youth L 14-16

N/A

Total

Total Shirt Cost

$0.00

On-site availability of shirts is not guaranteed if not requested and paid for by July 8, 2017.
Shirt orders will be taken at the star party and mailed out afterwards. The on-site order prices
will remain the same except that $10 or more will be charged for shipping where applicable.
Golf shirts are not available in youth sizes.

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You will be able to pay on-line using either a PayPal account or by credit card.

If you do not have a PayPal account and wish to pay by credit card, make sure to select the "Don't have a PayPal account?" link on the presented
PayPal page. You do not need to create a PayPal account to pay by credit card.

If you have any questions, or do not receive your
confirmation email or payment confirmation, please email sssp.sk@sasktel.net or call Rick at 306-665-3392.

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You can send a cheque or payment to Richard Huziak, SSSP Registrar, 127 Maple Street, Saskatoon, SK, S7J 0A2, Canada, or pay at the star party.
For payment inquires, contact SSSP at sssp.sk@sasktel.net
or call Rick at 306-665-3392.

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No items were purchased, so no further actions should be required. If you have any questions, or do not receive your
confirmation email, please email sssp.sk@sasktel.net or call Rick at 306-665-3392.

BBQ Information

The BBQ starts at 5 pm on Thursday and will be held by the Amphitheatre. Tickets are $5.
We are planning entertainment at 6 pm and a public talk (starting after the BBQ, about 7 pm).

Kid's Program - Saturday 10:00 am to 11:30 am at the Yurt by the Observatory

The Kid's Program is being run by Jennifer Petriew with the assistance of Kim Kulak and Emily Petriew.

Jennifer Petriew is married to Vance Petriew, discoverer of Comet Petriew.
Not so coincidentally, her interest in astronomy began shortly after meeting said comet discoverer 20 years ago.
Jennifer and Vance have three children, and she looks forward to spending time with the SSSP kids each year to help them have fun learning about astronomy.
Emily Petriew is Jennifer's daughter.

Kim Kulak is a wife and mother of a child with Autism and has a Bachelor of Education with a speciality in Early Childhood.
She has worked over 20 years in a variety of settings educating and providing programs for young children including those with special needs.
After a 3 year hiatus, Kim and family are attending their 9th SSSP and Kim is thrilled to be back volunteering with Jenn at the SSSP Kids Activities.

SSSP Kids... join us on Saturday morning at the Yurt Observatory to play, create and explore the wonders of our universe with other SSSP kids!
We will do some crafts, play and pretend, and maybe even learn a thing or two about astronomy! I'm looking forward to having some fun with you all!!!
Parents are welcome to stay and help out the very young astronomers.

This year we'll be learning about some interesting night sky objects, some ways that pictures are taken of these amazing objects and will get a
chance to create a space craft to help us take pictures of spectacular things in space! (Okay, not a real space craft, but we can pretend!).

Banquet Information

The Resort catering staff will be serving a single meat entrée buffet. The banquet is served in the Wapiti Room, starting at 6:00 pm Saturday. Costs for the banquet are: Adults 11 yr+, $37; Youth 6-10 yr, $23; Children under 6 yr, free.

There are a limited number of places for the banquet. They will be allocated on a "first registered, first allocated" basis. We strongly suggest that you preorder your tickets when you register. A small number of places will be held for at-the-door registrations but only if the room limit has not yet been exceeded. We also ask you, if you find that you are not able to come to the banquet but have preordered tickets, to contact us immediately by phoning 306-280-1899. We will refund your banquet ticket costs and will allocate your tickets to people on our waiting list. If you do not contact us beforehand and you do not show up, your banquet ticket costs will NOT be refunded. See "Refund Policy" for more information.

Menu to be announced.

If you have specific dietary requirements, please contact the star party organizers by e-mail or phone.

Louise Jones

Under Living Skies Public Lecture (Thursday 19:00 Amphitheatre)

"Home Place--Learning to live with nature in the city"

Abstract

We need to look after the air, water and green spaces in our cities. So many of us now live in cities, and while we love our getaways to scenic places, we can learn to appreciate the natural areas in our urban context. We experience so much joy in the beauty of nature in our Ecosphere - the land, the water, the sky, and we don’t want to lose all this. We need to care for our home place by learning to live within nature's boundaries.

By living and working together for our own health and well being, and that of nature that sustains us, the human species will have a much healthier future. While we have begun by making the first step of awareness of the importance of environment, the most important step is to follow through with concerted actions. Our children watch us and we must be role models, not just in what we say, but how we act.

Biography

Louise Jones will illustrate these principles with examples from her career as an environmental educator. She was co-creator and the Project Leader of the Brightwater Science and Environmental Program, a residential outdoor school program for students in the Saskatoon Public School system, and established the Road Map Saskatoon Project for Sustainability. Over the years, she has received several awards for her role as an environmental leader. Currently, she is the Chair of the Northeast Swale Watchers, a Saskatoon citizens group advocating for protection of natural areas within the boundaries of our expanding city.

Rena Woss

Friday Afternoon Workshop (13:30 Resort Wapiti Room)

"Light Pollution Abatement in Western Canada"

Abstract

This workshop, moderated by Rena Woss, will present an overview of light pollution, its impacts, why and how to fight it, and how changes in technology presents new challenges. We’ll also explore why astronomers aren’t doing more to protect their disappearing skies and find solutions to aid them in their quest.

Biography

Rena Woss is an environmentalist, an amateur astronomer and is past-president of the Lethbridge Astronomy Society. Her work of 30 years has culminated in establishing one of the finest club-owned astronomy centres in Alberta and in having the Oldman River Observatory designated an ‘Urban Star Park’. Promoting unpolluted skies has been a central focus of her work in the belief that healthy skies make for a healthy environment and a happier society.

Although meteorites have been known about for many centuries they did not become common knowledge until the 20th century. Indeed, after a meteorite fall in the early 1800's was described by two professors from Yale, Thomas Jefferson (previously president of the USA) is reported to have said that he would “rather believe that two Yankee professors would lie, than that stones would fall from the sky”. Although the quote is probably wrong, it none-the-less expressed what would have been a common feeling at the time. So, meteorites are stones that fall from the sky. But what are they? What are they made of? Where do they come from? How do they relate to Earth? And, what, if anything, can we learn from them? These are the main questions that people who study meteorites ask themselves, and these questions form the basis for most of this talk.

Biography

I first became interested in meteorites in early March, 1960, just 2½ months before graduation (BSc), when the Bruderheim meteor lit up the early morning sky just NE of Edmonton. A couple days later, after the fall of nearly 700 meteorite fragments, one of my professors, Prof. Bob Folinsbee, hauled me out of class to go meteorite hunting with him. I found six small pieces that day, but several farmers already had buckets full. Stones from the sky; I was amazed.

Unfortunately, it was some time before I was involved with the recovery in 1981 of another rock from space, the Wynyard Meteorite. This may have been the fallout from a large fireball that lit up the noon day sky over Wynyard, Saskatchewan, on July 24th, 1922, nearly 60 years earlier. I got to name this one; I was thrilled.

Since then I have been involved with the recovery of meteorites from the 2009 Buzzard Coulee meteorite fall, and the ancient (~ 1000 AD) Whitecourt impact (not discovered until 2008).

Professor Stauffer received his Doctorate in Geology from the Australian National University in 1964. He joined the faculty of the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan in 1965. He was promoted to Full Professor in 1975. He retired in 2005 and attained status as a Professor Emeritus.

(Written by Mel Stauffer with edits by Les Dickson)

Dr. Kathryn McWilliams

Fr. Lucian Kemble Memorial Lecture (Saturday, 15:00 Wapiti Room)

"Measuring the Weather in Space"

Professor Kathryn McWilliams, Department Of Physics and Engineering Physics, University Of Saskatchewan

Abstract

Space weather researchers study how conditions in space affect the Earth's upper atmosphere, in particular the ionosphere--the electrified layer of the atmosphere. One of the most well-known effects of space weather are the beautiful displays of aurora, which we are fortunate to be able to see in Canada. How is the aurora produced? How can we monitor space weather from the ground? How can you find out when the aurora will be taking place overhead? These are some of the questions we will investigate.

Biography

Kathryn McWilliams, Ph.D., P.Eng., is the Director of the SuperDARN Canada facility - an international collaboration involving ten countries who synchronize the operation of nearly forty radars around the world. The U of S operates five of these radars, including three that operate remotely in the Canadian high arctic. These radars measure the circulation of the plasma in the Earth's ionosphere driven by space weather conditions near Earth.

(Written by Kathryn McWilliams with edits by Les Dickson)

Murray Paulson

Clinic under the stars, (Friday, 22:00 Meadows Campground)

Binocular Star Walk

Mr. Murray Paulson

Abstract

The SSSP is a family reunion of sorts with the many friends I have met over the years. After what seems too long a wait, it is fast approaching. This year Murray will guide you through a tour of the near sky with your binoculars in his ever-popular Binocular Star Walk. We will swing across the night sky picking up all sorts of interesting objects from clusters through to some challenging nebula. I will show you some useful tricks to help find these elusive objects. We usually finish off with a hands on exploration of our favorite binoculars with the group. Bring your favorite pair and show them off.

(Written by Murray Paulson)

Biography

CARPE NOCTEM!

I felt the starry sky calling when I was 9 years old. The moon, planets and those distant motes of light were so intriguing and these many years later I find they still fascinate me. Whether viewing the planets, a distant nebula, or a colorful double, the sky brings me home. In the 90s I discovered Meteorites and Eclipses which I fell in love with. Neither of these activities is helping the RRSPs along, so what the heck, Carpe Noctem! Murray Paulson also writes the Planets section of the RASC Observers Handbook. His family are from St. Albert, Alberta.

(Written by Murray Paulson with edits by Les Dickson)

Tim Yaworski

Clinic under the stars, (Saturday, 22:00 Meadows Campground)

The Best Camera is the One You Have With You

Mr. Tim Yaworski

Abstract

"The Best Camera is the One You Have With You" is a workshop looking at all of the options of consumer camera styles (smart phone, point and shoot cameras, "bridge" cameras and DSLR/Mirrorless cameras and their uses/limitations in regards to astrophotography. The emphasis is on imaging without the aid of a telescope. This would not cover dedicated astronomical CCD cameras, rather it pertains equipment that people would be able to use in their daily lives as well.

(Written by Tim Yaworski with edits by Les Dickson)

Biography

Tim Yaworski is a professional photographer and filmmaker who has been passionate about photography for over 40 years with a focus on astrophotography for the last two. Tim is a member of the Saskatoon Centre. www.timkip.com

(Written by Tim Yaworski)

Jennifer Petriew

SSSP 2017 Saturday Children’s Program

Children’s Program

Come explore our solar system with the SSSP Kids 2017! Suitable for the young and young at heart, SSSP Kids will get to explore some of the things that make our solar system interesting and exciting! Lead by Jennifer Petriew and Kim Kulak, SSSP Kids will join in some group games, have some fun with gravity, and explore some activity and crafting stations at your own pace. Maybe you'd like to create your very own moon rock buddy or paint a pretty night scene with sparkly stars in the sky? You might get a little messy, or even a little wet, so maybe save your fancy clothes for the banquet and come ready to play! A light snack will be provided, and parents are encouraged to accompany their young children and join in the fun!

Jennifer Petriew is married to Vance Petriew, discoverer of Comet Petriew. Not so coincidentally, her interest in astronomy began shortly after meeting said comet discoverer 20 years ago. Jennifer and Vance have three children, and she looks forward to spending time with the SSSP kids each year to help them have fun learning about astronomy.

Kim Kulak

SSSP 2017 Saturday Children’s Program

Children’s Program

Kim Kulak is a wife and mother of a child with Autism and has a Bachelor of Education with a specialty in Early Childhood. Kim has worked over 20 years in a variety of educational settings providing programs for young children including those with special needs. Kim and family are attending their 10th SSSP and Kim is thrilled to be back this year leading the SSSP Kids’ Activities with Jen Petriew.